asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, owing to the necessity of buying through his Department, firms in this country using linters have been forced to pay one penny to twopence per lb. more than they would have paid if they had been free to purchase this commodity direct; and what action he proposes to take to remove this disadvantage.

Yes. The world shortage of chemical linters in 1946 and 1947 made it necessary to buy supplies at high prices in order to safeguard the requirements of the rayon and other industries. Stocks were built up for this purpose, and until they have been liquidated the selling price must be somewhat above the price abroad. It was, however, reduced on 1st April by seven-eighths of a penny.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that applications by Aberdeen Fish Curers and Merchants Association for necessary fish boxes which have been approved by the Fish Division of the Ministry of Food, have been refused by the Timber Control of his Department, and that unless this is rectified and the supply of boxes is continued as in the past that association's factory will have to close down with consequent unemployment; and whether, as the matter is urgent, he will have it rectified with speed.

I have received my hon. and learned Friend's letter about this matter. As the hon. Member for South Aberdeen (Lady Grant) was informed on 20th April, these applications were rejected on currency grounds. Since the requirements can be met by boxboards cut from timber already in stock in this country the expenditure of the foreign currency concerned would not be justified. I have arranged that the area officer of the Timber Control will give any necessary help in locating supplies of home manufactured boxboards, and no question of unemployment should arise for that reason.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 50 per cent. of the employees of the Alloa Glassworks Co., Ltd., have had to be paid off because of a shortage of soda ash; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

This firm is reducing its staff on the transfer of part of its production to a new extension which will be more economical in labour. The firm is receiving its normal allocation of soda ash, but the shortage of this material has made it impossible for me to allocate enough to enable the firm to operate simultaneously both its old and new plant. Some weeks ago an additional amount of soda ash became available, but the firm's minimum stated requirements were too high to justify the additional allocation. It was only after my Department had finally allocated this extra amount that the firm stated that a reduced allocation would be of value. Since the hon. Member put down his Question, a further small amount of soda ash has become available for allocation, and I shall be able to give the firm some assistance though not, I fear, enough to enable them to retain all their labour force hitherto employed.

asked the Minister of Food why the import of five lb. per person of bird seed from Ireland has now been stopped; and if he will take steps to re-introduce this concession to breeders of cage-birds in this country.

I have -been asked to reply. Licences are not normally issued for the import of bird seed from any source. I understand that some quantities of bird seed have been purchased and illegally imported under the guise of gift parcels. There is no concession allowing import by purchase and any such imports are liable to confiscation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the Danish Government to issue import licences in respect of imports of linoleum from this country; and whether he will cause representations to be made to them on this subject.

The Danish authorities have only very recently made known to us their proposed overall import programme for 1948. This is, at present, under consideration. We shall take up with the Danish authorities any cases in which it appears that due regard is not being paid to the normal pattern of trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average time taken by his Department to answer letters from Members of Parliament; to what extent the existence of a Central Register, with a staff of approximately 400, contributes to the delay; and what remedial action he proposes taking.

In the case of a number of articles such as aircraft, vehicles, clothing, radio and electrical equipment, it is not possible to determine on export the precise use to which they may be put, and the Trade and Navigation Accounts do not attempt to distinguish between civil and military types.The following table gives particulars of the exports of arms, ammunition and military and naval stores for the period March, 1946, to February, 1948. There were no exports between May, 1945, and March, 1946.

The average length of time during March, as far as can be ascertained by a sample analysis, was about 19 days. There is no central registry; and any delay is not due to preliminary sorting. Many letters call for detailed investigations which necessarily take some time. I hope that measures now being taken will reduce the delay in other cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the export of hearing aids during 1947, by quantity and value; and whether he will include these figures in future issues of the Trade and Navigation Accounts.

This information is not available as particulars of hearing aids are not separately recorded on exportation, I am looking into the proposal in the second part of the Question, but I am doubtful whether the volume of exports will justify raising a special heading.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the increased consumption of fuel oil consequent upon the conversion of industrial plant to fuel oil since 1945; the cost in hard currency of bringing into the United Kingdom the additional fuel oil for conversion of industrial plant; and whether the figures for the saving of petrol due to the abolition of the basic ration were reached after deducting the additional petroleum oil imported into the country for conversion of industrial plant.

It is estimated that the consumption of fuel oil by industrial plants increased by approximately 2.2 million tons between May, 1946, and the end of March, 1948, as the result of the conversion schemes. Up till April, 1947, no dollar expenditure was incurred, but since then there have been imports from dollar sources to the value of about £3·8 million. The answer to the third part of the Question is, "No."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that, owing to the regulation issued by his Department on 18th February, a dangerous gas stove in Gillingham, Dorset, details of which case have been given to him, cannot be replaced, and if he will now take steps to bring to an end the continuing delay in obtaining a decision on this matter.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to some general advice which was issued in February to supply undertakings by the Electricity Commissioners in regard to the provision of new non-industrial services and apparatus, in order to secure that for the time being only essential needs are met. I think there may have been some misunderstanding in this particular case, and my right hon. Friend is making further inquiries. We will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what is estimated to be the cost of introducing 40,000 European voluntary workers into the textile industry.

It is estimated that the cost of recruiting European volunteer workers for the textile industries will be in the neighbourhood of £30 per head but this figure may be subject to variation in the light of further experience. It includes the cost of selecting workers, of bringing them from the Continent and of maintaining them until placed in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour of the 3,500 European voluntary workers placed in the textile industry in Lancashire, how many are respectively, male and female; of such numbers, how many males and females, respectively, are married; in how many cases husband and wife are both in this country; and how many males and females, respectively, have now working dependants in this country or desirous of coming to this country.

The total quoted by the hon. Member comprises approximately 3,000 women and 500 men. The rest of the information asked for is not available and could only be obtained by detailed examination of individual records.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the results of the recent British mission to Europe to investigate recruitment of European voluntary workers for the textile industry.

This mission was composed of representatives of employers associations and trade unions in the cotton and wool industries. The mission expressed itself in favour of the recruitment of Austrian women and Volksdeutsche, subject to certain safeguards.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-Service men who have received instruction under the various training schemes and the number placed in employment during the years 1946 and 1947, respectively.

Following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of accidents sustained by workpeople in factories during the last three years; the total paid in compensation to those concerned; and in how many cases there was a successful prosecution due to negligence on the part of an employer.

The accident figures for 1947 are not yet available. The number of accidents to workpeople in factories during the three years 1944 to 1946 and reported under Section 64 of the Factories Act, 1937, was 716,716. For the same period, the number of successful prosecutions under Section 133 of the Act (that is, in respect of death or injury due to a contravention of the Act by the factory occupier or owner) was 1,095. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance that the figures asked for in the second part of the Question are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that disability pensions earned during service with the Palestine Police are taxed at full unearned income rates, whereas disability pensions earned during service with the Royal Navy, Army and R.A.F. are free of tax, although the Palestine Police has been considered for operational purposes as part of the Armed Forces of the Crown since 1941; and whether he will take steps to correct this anomaly.

I understand that the additional pension awarded for disability to members of the Palestine Police Force is not charged to tax. The pension in respect of past service is taxable as earned income. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I will have it examined if he will send me the facts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there is a considerable flow of capital from the United Kingdom to Australia; and what steps he is taking to check that flight of currency.

I am aware that there is some capital movement to Australia from this country, largely for productive investment. But neither the volume nor the character of the movement is such as to cause undue anxiety.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a further announcement with regard to allowing visits to additional European countries.

I have no further announcement to make, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) on this subject on 20th April.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now make a larger allocation of linseed oil to the linoleum industry.

The allocation of linseed oil to the linoleum industry was increased by 5o per cent. in the last quarter of 1947, and has since been maintained at the increased rate. As linseed oil imports, most of which come from hard currency sources, will be much lower in 1948 than in 1947, the maintenance of total allocations at the present rate involves heavy drawing upon stocks. Consequently, I cannot promise a larger allocation to linoleum which is already getting a reasonable share of the supplies available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the incomes of many people were swollen (luring the last financial year by deferred payments of interest on War Damage value payments and that the total does not truly represent their ordinary annual income, whether payments made last year in respect of interest on War Damage value payments will be ignored in arriving at the figure governing the payment of contribution to the proposed capital levy.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of dollars had to be made available to the West Indies, and to Jamaica and to Bermuda, in particular, during 1947.

The net drain on our reserves on account of the West Indies was about £27½ million in 1947. I am not prepared to give figures for individual Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of Mr. Oswald Pirow's specific and violent incitements to war amongst nations, what steps he proposes to take to prevent the breaches of peace likely to be caused by these speeches.

I have been unable to discover any information about such speeches as my hon. Friend appears to have in mind, and if he will send me any reports which have reached him, I will be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Civil Service employed in confidential posts were included in the list of members of the "Right Club" contained in the "Red Book" which was impounded by him when Captain Ramsay was interned.

I have already explained why it would be wrong for me to publish names found in this book, and it would be equally wrong for me to give positive or negative replies to guesses as to what names may or may not be there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the growth of crimes of violence, as indicated by official figures, he will take steps to ascertain whether or not the police wish to he armed as a matter of routine.

Fire-arms are available for use by police officers in special circumstances when engaged on specially dangerous duty. I am convinced that the police themselves would be the first to appreciate how undesirable it would be to arm them as a matter of course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to obtain an increase in his police grant to enable payment to all the police of an extra 20 per cent. as danger money as a result of criminals incurring the death penalty by murder of police being automatically reprieved.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of burglary and housebreaking, respectively, took place during each of the last six months in the borough of Ealing.

In October 1947 there were no burglaries in the borough of Ealing, and seven housebreakings. In November, 1947, the figures were respectively one and 20; in December, 1947, three and 36; in January, 1948, five and 32; in February, 1948, four and 15; and in March, 1948, one and 19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the absence of a male colleague, it is competent under his regulations for two female magistrates to hold a juvenile court.

Rules made by the Lord Chancellor applying to juvenile courts outside the Metropolitan Magistrates Court Area do not permit this. In the Metropolitan Magistrates Court Area the statute provides that a juvenile court may in certain exceptional circumstances be constituted of two women.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the approaching Summer season and consequent considerable increase in the sale of ice-cream, which in many cases is of doubtful standards of purity, if he will take steps to introduce a licensing scheme or a scheme for the grading of ice-cream in a similar way to that which is done in other countries as a necessary public safeguard to ensure easily recognised standards of cleanliness in the preparation and the food content.

No. A high degree of cleanliness is obtainable under existing Acts and regulations. I do not think it feasible to add to these requirements under present conditions.

asked the Minister of Health what action he has taken to associate the medical profession in the United Kingdom with the work of the World Health Organisation; and to bring to the notice of the general public its achievements in campaigns against venereal disease, tuberculosis, malaria and pestilential diseases.

The Organisation's first meeting has not yet been held. But I associate myself with the general objects to which my hon. Friend refers, and shall not overlook them.

asked the Minister of Health whether His Majesty's Government has issued any invitation to the World Health Organisation to hold the World Health Assembly in London in 1949.

The first meeting of the World Health Organisation, which I had hoped might be held in London, has now been arranged for Geneva in June. I shall consider whether at that meeting it would be possible to offer accommodation in London for the 1949 Assembly.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the unemployment in the building trade and the availability of building operatives and building materials in rural areas, he will now give consideration to the giving of a grant for the reconditioning of rural houses.

Legislation would be required for the purpose suggested by the hon. Member, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent circular which deals with the issue of licences for the reconditioning of houses. I am not aware of any substantial unemployment in the building trade in rural areas and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will give me details of any case he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of new houses which county agricultural executive committees estimate are required for farm workers in England and Wales; and the number of authorisations issued to the local councils under the Government's priority scheme for farm workers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 5th February to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd), of which I am sending him a copy. Statistics as to new tenders approved for rural district councils are given in the monthly Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been acquired by housing authorities from builders under the terms of his Department's Circular No. 92 of 1946.

The number at 29th February was 8,315. A further 14,780 were in approved tenders; of these 12,204 were under construction.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to include aluminium two-storey houses in the housing programme; what is their estimated excess cost over a brick house; and what contractual engagements, involving a charge on public funds, have been entered into for their production, or are contemplated.

This matter is under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement. The excess cost over that of a brick house would in any case not be a charge to public funds.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the slow progress of completion of the scheme for 15,000 permanent aluminium houses involving an estimated subsidy of £10,500,000, he will consider cancelling the uncompleted balance of the contract and issue licences to private enterprise to build brick houses in exchange.

No. On the contrary the rate of progress is up to schedule.

asked the Minister of Health, in order to restore the balance in the traditional industry by transferring timber supplies thereto, if he will withdraw approvals for all non-traditional houses not yet started and issue licences to private enterprise for brick houses to replace.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8th April.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now considered the statistics which have been sent to him concerning the building programme for nontraditional houses; and if he has any statement to make.

Yes; no.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he proposes to send to a letter from Mr. John Edmonds of 9 Springfield Gardens, West Wickham, dated 15th April, who, in view of his inability to obtain licences is compelled to discharge his men; and whether he will issue licences for the work that Mr. Edmonds has in hand, especially that in the area of the rural district council of Crowborough.

I should not feel justified in questioning the decision of the local authority which has already been given in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health the date on which he expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on Population.

I understand that the Royal Commission hope to complete their Report this year, but it is not possible yet to give a date of presentation or publication.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason the Manor House Hospital and the Manor House Clinic, Hampstead, are to be exempted from the National Health Service.

It appeared to me that their transfer was not required for the purpose of providing hospital and specialist services under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health if panel doctors under their present contract will be paid for any new patients taken on their lists for treatment during the quarter previous to the expiry of the National Health Insurance Act.

It is contemplated that the payments an insurance doctor will receive for the period 1st January to 4th July, 1948, will be based on the average of the number of persons on his list on 1st January and 1st April.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has formed any estimate of the increased staff required or the increased cost of administration necessitated for the implementation of the proposals of the Local Government Boundary Commission.

No, it is too soon to estimate whether increased staff would be necessary or not.

asked the Minister of Health why approval has not yet been granted by his Department to the scheme to lay on water to the Duchy Farms at Midville, Boston; what was the date on which he was first approached about this matter; and what is the reason for the delay in coming to a decision.

This scheme was first submitted by the Council on 7th June, 1947, a list of tenders was sent to me on 27th February, 1948, and approval was given on 13th April. I do not consider there has been any undue delay.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the disparity in rate contribution between upland and river water authorities which militates against the extension of rural water supplies; and if he will make inquiries with the view of laying down a more realistic system for rating water authorities.

I am not aware that the extension of rural water supplies has been hampered in the way suggested. I would, however, draw my hon. Friend's attention to the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1948, centralising the work of valuation for rating purposes which should result in a more uniform system of rating water undertakings throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in cases in which a boy's 15th birthday would normally fall before the commencement of a term, but when by reason of staggered holidays, it in fact falls after the commencement of that term, he will take steps to allow a boy at his option to leave school without having the further term.

I have no power by administrative action to waive the requirements of Section 8 (1) of the Education Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Works what progress he has been able to make towards vacating Tiffenden Manor, High Halden, Kent, at present serving as a hostel for special police personnel in order to enable the farmer-owner to return to his house and to concentrate upon food production.

No suitable alternative for Tiffenden Manor has yet been found. A scheme to build the necessary accommodation is now being considered.

asked the Minister of Works how many prosecutions have been instituted and how many convictions obtained up to the latest convenient date for offences against Defence Regulation 56A in respect of contravention of the £10 limit imposed on building operations where the estimated value of the work carried out exceeded £50 and was below that value, respectively.

The £10 limit was applied to the whole of Great Britain from the 1st August, 1945. The number of prosecutions from the 1st October, 1945, to the 31st December, 1947, was 688 of which 630 were successful. The number of these cases in which the value of the work done was less than £50 cannot be discovered without consulting a large number of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Works why his Department has not yet begun to recondition the Memorial Hall, Sarn, Caernarvonshire, although it has ceased using it since July, 1947; and if he will expedite the restoring of this hall to its original condition so that the villagers may again enjoy its use.

I regret the delay in this case, which has been largely due to the pressure of other more urgent work. I have given instructions that the restoration of this building is to proceed as quickly as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will consider introducing legislation extending to those employed by private companies in civil aviation protection similar to that afforded to men of the Mercantile Marine stranded overseas by the fault or misfortune of shipowners.

Yes. This question will be looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the representatives of the Dominions in the United Kingdom, to effect a speed-up in the rate of emigration of British citizens to Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand.

A considerable amount of shipping for migrants has already been provided under arrangements made in concert with the overseas Governments concerned. The movement of migrants will be accelerated as the reconversion of existing shipping proceeds and additional tonnage becomes available. Every effort is being made to provide additional facilities for those whom the overseas Governments are ready to receive, bearing in mind the many other heavy demands on the shipping resources.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the land requirements of the Territorial Army in the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick have now been worked out; and whether his Department will now release Boston Lodge, Brentford, for sale to the Borough Council, in view of the acute local housing shortage.

The land requirements of the Middlesex Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association in the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick are not as yet fully met, and it is, therefore, necessary in the interests of the Territorial Army to retain Boston Lodge, Brentford. Accommodation for a further unit, a formation headquarters and married quarters for the permanent staff, will shortly be erected in the grounds of Boston Lodge, which, together with the units' specialised equipment, will use all the available space. It will be, therefore, impossible to give up Boston Lodge to the Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council, unless the council can offer an alternative site in the same locality to my Department in the very near future, as suggested in reply to a similar Question by my predecessor on 13th March, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the rioting of Ceylonese troops at Woodlands Camp, Singapore, on 2nd April.

Reports have been received of two incidents which occurred on 2nd April and 12th April, 1948, involving Ceylonese Pioneers working in an Ordnance Depot in Singapore. The causes of these incidents are not known, but a Court of Inquiry is at present sitting. At the request of the Prime Minister of Ceylon, Ceylonese representatives are visiting Singapore to inquire into any grievances among the Pioneers. When these inquiries have been completed, and I have seen the reports, I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will give an assurance that when the new National Insurance scheme comes into operation on 5th July, 1948, he will be prepared to make available to employers, who make up their employees statutory sickness benefit to full pay or a proportion of full pay, information as to the amount of statutory sickness benefit received by any such employees to enable their schemes to be properly and fairly administered.

It would be contrary to practice to give 'information to third parties about benefit payments. I am, however, advised that employers should have no difficulty in getting direct from their employees any information they require for their own sick pay arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the sums which have been spent on resettlement of African Service men.

The following are the sums (a) spent in previous years (b) provided in current estimates:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the substantial increase in the grant towards the expenditure of the Imperial War Graves Commission indicates that the main work of preparing cemeteries is now beginning; and if he will make a statement on the progress to date.

Yes. The larger grants reflect progress by the Imperial War Graves Commission on preliminary horticultural work and the placing of contracts for permanent headstones and the architectural construction in the cemeteries handed over to the Commission by the Service Departments. The following is a statement of progress to date:The work of restoring the cemeteries and memorials of the War of 1914–18 to their former standard has, with few exceptions, been satisfactorily completed.Approximately 400 cemeteries of over 40 graves of the 1939–45 War have so far been taken over by the Commission and designs for the ultimate construction of 77 of these have been received from the principal architects. Twenty-nine cemeteries are in the course of preparation for final construction and in all other cases preliminary horticultural preparation is in progress. The number of graves, taken over, is now approximately 250,000.A great amount of detailed work, including examination and checking of records, has to be completed before actual construction can take place. Apart from that the main work of preparing a war cemetery includes: (